Les
Girls visited the Michigan Theater for a Christmas week run of
this Cole Porter M-G-M musical starring Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay
Kendall, and Taina Elg. On December 20, the Merchant's Christmas Show
featured Gun
Glory (Stewart Granger, Rhonda Fleming, Chill Wills). Patrons
picked up free tickets for this movie at local businesses, in a promotion
like the free Christmas movies at the Michigan in the early 21st century
that are sponsored by area merchants.

Other
big openings this month included Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's
Pursuit
of the Graf Spee (John Gregson, Anthony Quayle, Finch) and Legend
of the Lost (John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Rossano Brazzi). On December
31, the Michigan held its "Great Annual Kiddie's New Year's Eve Matinee
Party." This 1-3 p.m. event let children "celebrate the New
Year just like Mom & Dad!" with cartoons and the 1955 movie The
Seven Little Foys (Bob Hope), along with free hats, noisemakers
and candy.

"Special
Limited Engagement - Starts Today at These Theatres - Greatest Motion
Event in Motion Picture History," read a December 18 ad in the Detroit
Free Press for The
Ten Commandments, which was opening at the Redford, Woods, Bloomfield,
Wyandotte and Avalon. This Cecil B. DeMille epic
continued through the end of the year at prices of 90 cents for matinees,
$1.50 for Sundays, holidays and evenings, and 60 cents always for children.